Torpedo-type cleaner with detachable cord reel



2,877,488 TORPEDO-TYPE CLEANER WITH DETACHABLE CORD REEL Filed June 26, 1953 March 17, 1959 B. J. TAMARIN 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. BERNARD J. TAMARIN AT RNEY March 17, 1959 B. J. TAMARIN TORPEDO-TYPE CLEANER WITH DETACHABLE CORD REEL Filed June 26, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. BERNARD J. TAMARIN ATTOR EY March 17, 1959 B. J. TAMARIN 2,877,488

TORPEDO-TYPE CLEANER WITH DETACHABLE CORD REEL Filed June 26, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. BERNARD J. TAMARIN ATTOR EY March 17, 1959 B. J. TAMARIN TORPEDO-TYPE CLEANER WITH DETACHABLE CORD REEL Filed June 26, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. BERNARD J. TAMARIN ATTORNEY United States Patent- TORPEDO-TYPE CLEANER WITH DETA'CHABLE CORD REEL Bernard J. Tamarin, Flourtown, Pa. Application June 26, 1953, Serial No. 364,358 8 Claims. (Cl. -323) means whereby a cord-reel may be operatively secured -to the discharge end of a torpedo-type vacuum cleaner,

without preventing the attachment to the discharge outlet of said vacuum cleaner of a discharge conduit or hose or the like through which the discharged air from said vacuum cleaner may be conveyed, for any cleaning op eration for which a stream of air is desired.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a cord-reel device which may be secured to a torpedo type vacuum cleaner for easy and ready maneuverability of the cord-reel with respect to said vacuum cleaner whereby said cord-reel may be moved, relative to the discharge end of said vacuum cleaner, when it. is desired to attach a blower hose to the discharge port.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide means comprising a standard or universal-cord reel affixed to the exhaust-end of a torpedo-type vacuum cleaner whereby the torpedo-type vacuum cleaner may be vertically positioned with the cord-reel as a base,

The torpedo-type vacuum cleaner contemplated by the present invention generally include a cylindrical bodyportion having an intake end and a discharge end and means disposed within said cylinder to create a vacuum at the intake end and to discharge the air under pressure at the discharge end, whereby to draw air through said cylinder, and means within said cylinder to entrap dirt or dust particles carried by the air and to discharge, through the discharge end of said cylinder, clean filtered air, leaving behind, within the cylinder, the dirt or dust,

removed from said air. The torpedo-type vacuum cleaner contemplated in the present invention may be similar to those described in my U. S. Patents Nos. 2,292,250; 2,314,177 or in Lofgren U. S. Patents By way of example I refer to my U. S. Patents 1,484,681, 1,551,856, 1,902,593, and 2,443,701: Meletti Patents 2,391,840 and 2,521,178 and Bosch Patent 2,159,004 to illustrate cord-reels contemplated by the present invention, and do not mean to restrict my disclosure to any form of cord-reel.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists can be variously arranged and organized i and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and organizations herein shown and described.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts,

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary perspective view of a torpedo-type vacuum cleaner with a cord-reel attached thereto, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 represents a perspective view of the reelmounting means and the cord-reel aflixed to the exhaustend of a torpedo-type vacuum cleaner, the reel-mounting means being partly disconnected from the discharge-end of the vacuum cleaner.

Figure 3 represents a perspective view of the cord-reel and reel-mounting means secured in interlocking relaof the instrumentalities as 'tionship with the discharge-end of the torpedo-type vacuum cleaner.

. Figure 4 represents a side elevational view, partly in section of the cord-reel and reel-mounting means secured in interlocking relationship with the discharge-end of the torpedo-type of vacuum cleaner.

Figure 5 represents a plan view taken on line 55 of Figure 4.

' Figure 6 represents an elevational view of the cordreel and reel-mounting means secured in interlocking relationship with the discharge end of a torpedo-type of vacuum cleaner, with the cord-reel serving as a base for the torpedo-type vacuum cleaner, permitting said vacuum cleaner to be vertically positioned.

Referring to Figures 1-6, inclusive, there is shown a reel-supporting means for detachably securing a cord- 2,322,038 and 2,323,275, and I refer to these disclosures only by way of illustration, and do not mean to limit myself to any specific construction of torpedo-type vacuum cleaner.

The cord-reel or takeup reel contemplated by the present invention generally comprises a fiat circular housing within which a spring-wound reel is rotatably disposed and upon which reel a suitable length of electric cord may be wound with one end of said cord extending be-. yond said housing and with the other end of said cord operatively connected to slip-rings or brush-contacts or the like. A plurality of contacts (engaging saidsliprings) are connected to an electric cord non-rotatably secured to the said housing, said non-rotatable cord connected to the vacuum cleaner motor.

reel to the discharge end of a torpedo-type or tank-type vacuum cleaner. The vacuum cleaner 40 comprises a generally cylindrical body portion 41, having nose portion or front end 42 (see Figure 6) secured thereto to which front-end or intake-end a suctional hose (not shown) may be secured. The rear or discharge end of the vacuum cleaner has a covered-portion or housing 44,'

secured to the body portion 41. v

The front-end 42, body portion 41 and rear-end 44 form a generally integral unit containing the suction fan,

collection bag, motor unit and other component parts, comprising the generally standard tank-type vacuum cleaner.

To the body portion 41 are secured a pair of runners or guides 46, upon which the vacuum cleaner is supported when in use. Guides 46 may be tubular or rod-like portions forming anti-frictional members upon which the vacuum-cleaner is supported when pulled across a supporting surface.

An electric motor (not shown) is disposed within vacuum cleaner 40 to which a rotary fan (not shown) may be operatively connected so as to create a vacuum within the vacuum cleaner intake chamber (not shown) positioned in forward end 42. The air from the rotary fan a fan-supporting shaft 49 for supporting the' rotary fan (not shown) terminates proximate discharge opening 52 in rear-end 44.

Appropriate electrical connections 56, comprising an insulated cable, extend through connector plug 51, secured at the top of rear-end or housing 44 (connector plug 51 may be secured at other positions on the vacuum-cleaner 45)), to the electric motor disposed within the vacuum cleaner, whereby the motor can be caused to operate. The motor operation effects a flow of air through the vacuum cleaner from the intake opening at the front end 42, through the collection bag and suction fan and subsequently discharges the air through rear discharge opening 52.

A cord-reel 53, having an extensible cord or electrical cable 54 (see Figure 4) disposed therewithin in such a manner whereby the cord 54 may be lengthened or shortened, as desired, is secured at the rear of vacuum cleaner 40, as will be hereinafter described. The cord 54 may have electrical contacts within the body of the cord-reel 53, adapted to make moving electrical contact with suitable connector brushes (not shown); said brushes being generally non-rotatably secured to a support or connector 55, and electrically connected to cable 56. In this manner, electric current may be supplied through the cord 54, and transmitted through the connector 55 to cable 56, which in turn, may be connected through the connector plug 51 on the housing 44.

The cord reel 53 supplies means to supply electric current through the wires 54 and 56, to the motor and thus to energize the motor and operate the vacuum cleaner without having an unsightly and unmanageable length of cord 54 strewn about the work-area in which the vacuum cleaner is to be operated and which permits the cord 54 to be collected in or dispensed from the cord-reel 53 as the vacuum cleaner (with the cord-reel 53 connected thereto) is moved toward or away from the source of electrical energy to which the cord 54 is connected.

As heretofore indicated, the cord-reel may be similar to that discussed in my U. S. Patents Nos. 1,484,681, 1,551,856, 1,902,593, and 2,443,701: Meletti Patents 2,391,840 and 2,521,178 and Bosch Patent 2,159,004.

Cord-reel hinge member or cord-reel bracket member 58 permits the cord-reel 53 to be secured to the vacuumcleaner 40 without interfering with the discharge of the compressed air through discharge-opening 52.

As shown, particularly in Figures 2 and 4, housing 44 converges at its terminal end and terminates in a transverse flange 59, which may have an in-turned end 60, forming the discharge opening 52 at the terminal end of housing 44.

The discharge-opening 52 is circular in shape, so as to receive therewithin if desired, a discharge conduit or hose (not shown) through which the discharged compressed air from the exhaust fan may be blown and carried away from the vicinity of the vacuum cleaner 40, and thus prevent it from being discharged directly to the atmosphere through the discharge-opening 52.

Afiixed to housing 44 of vacuum cleaner 40, is vacuumcleaner bracket-member or vacuum cleaner hinge member 20 having a main body portion 21 (see Figure 2). Vacuum-cleaner bracket member 20 is athxed to housing 44 of vacuum cleaner 40 by means of screw 22 which joins the upper portion of vacuum cleaner bracket member 20, to the upper portion of housing 44, and by means of a hook-member 23 (see Figure 4) which fits into a recess 24 provided in the basal end of housing 44. In order to prevent rotational movement of vacuum cleaner bracketmember 20, it is further provided with tabs, flanges or fingers 25 and 26, angularly disposed in respect to body portion 21, which contact the outer surface of housing 44, and prevent the rotation of the body portion 21, in relation to housing 44. If desired, housing 44 may have a plurality of recesses or shoulders disposed therein, adapted to engage with tabs 25 and 26 to securely interconnect or interlock the vacuum-cleaner bracket member 20 with housing 44, and prevent relative rotation thereof. Vacuum cleaner bracket-member 20 is provided with a hole 32, coextensive and coaxial with discharge opening 52, when bracket-member 20 is engaged with housing 44.

The vacuum cleaner-bracket member 20 is provided with an upper hinge-flange or support-flange 27 and a lower hinge flange or support-flange 28. Hinge flanges 27 and 28 are each provided with aligned screw receiving holes 29 and 31.

Cord-reel bracket-member 53 includes a body portion 61 having a generally circular opening 62 therein of approximately the same size as or slightly larger than discharge opening 52. A pair of stamped ridges or ribs 30 adjacent opening 62 confer strength on body portion 61. Body portion 61 has a plurality of angularly disposed integrally formed offsetting hinge extensions 63 and 64, respectively disposed at the upper and lower ends thereof, which serve both to offset the body-portion 61 from the cord-reel and to form hinging means. The extensions 63 and 64, in turn, have angularly disposed terminalportions or reel-contacting portions 65 and 66, which are adapted to fit against one side of the cord-reel 53, and to be secured thereto such as by soldering, welding, riveting, screws or the like. In the instant embodiment rivets 67 and 68 are used for this purpose, see Figure 2.

Along one arcuate lower-portion of the edge of the opening 62, an integral flange or lip 69 is formed of an appropriate size and shape so as to engage flush with the face 60 of the discharge-opening 52 in the terminal portion of housing 44. The flange or lip 69 is preferably arcuate in a transverse direction so as to conveniently fit over the edge 60 and to permit the cord-reel bracketmember 58 to be supported upon the opening 52 along a portion of its lower edge 61).

In order to prevent the cord-reel bracket-member 58 from disengaging with the upper edge of opening 52 when it is desired to interlockingly engage the cord-reel with the vacuum-cleaner, an adjustable knurled thumbnut 70 and locking-finger 71 are operatively disposed on extension 63 and the upper edge of the body portion 61 of cord-reel bracket 58. The hooked-shaped portion 72 of locking-finger 71 can be engaged behind the face 60 of the opening 52, and securely clamped there-against to lock the cord reel bracket member 58 in immovable relationship with housing 44 of vacuum cleaner 40.

As shown most clearly in Figure 4, the locking device includes threaded thumb-nut 70 operatively disposed upon the threaded end 73 of the locking-finger '71, so as to draw the hooked end 72 of the finger 71 against the face 60 of the discharge opening 52 when the thumb-nut 70 is turned upon the threaded portion 73. A locking nut 74 prevents the thumb-nut 70 from being completely disengaged from the threaded portion 73.

The finger 71 is supported at its upper end and in the hole 76 in extension 63, and near its lower end by the tab 77 protruding from the body portion 61, near the upper edge of the opening 62 therein. A plurality of guide tabs 78, angularly disposed in relation to body portion 61 and on the same side thereof as lip 69, are provided to guide the cord-reel bracket member 58 when it is engaged with discharge opening 52.

Aligned holes are located in extensions 63 and 64 of cord-reel bracket-member 58 which operatively align with holes 29 and 31, in respective flange members 27 and 28 of vacuum-cleaner bracket-member 2-1). Pivot pins 18 and 19 which can comprise screw and bolt means, threaded screws, flared split screws, or rivets are respectively inserted into each of the aligned pairs of holes so that cord-reel bracket-member 53 is pivotally hinged to vacuum-cleaner bracket member 20. If desired, a single pivot pin can be inserted through both aligned pairs of holes.

The operation of the combination of my invention is as follows: The cord-reel bracket-member 58, secured to one side of cord-reel 53 by rivets 67 and 68 and hinged to vacuum-cleaner bracket-member 20 by pivot pins 18 and 19 in open position, as shown in Figure 2 is engaged with vacuum-cleaner 40 by first unscrewing thumb-nut 70 on the threaded portion 73. This moves hook portion 72 of locking-finger 71 away from the upper edge of the opening 62 in the body portion 61; that is, hooked portion 71 is moved towards the center of opening 62. When this has been effected, cord-reel 53 and cord-reel bracket member 58 are pivotally moved into operative engagement with the opening 32 of vacuum-cleaner bracket member 20 and discharge opening 52 of vacuum-cleaner 40. Lip 69 and guide tabs 78 are engaged with face 60 of discharge opening 52 of vacuum-cleaner 40. When the engagement is effected, hook member 72 is positioned behind the upper edge of the discharge opening 52. Thumb-nut 70 on threaded portion 73 is then screwed down onto the upper surface of extension 63 thereby securely locking the hook 72 behind the edge 60 of the discharge opening 52 (Figures 4 and 5) perfecting the engagement.

In order to remove the cord-reel 53 and the cordreel bracket 58 from the discharge opening 52 of vacuum-cleaner 40, it is necessary only to unscrew the thumb-nut 70, lower locking-finger 71 and disengage the hook 72 from the face 60 of discharge opening 52 and pivot cord-reel bracket-member 58 and cord-reel 53 outwardly from housing 44 about pivot pins 18 and 19. This leaves the discharge opening 52 of vacuum cleaner 40 free to receive a discharge conduit or hose therein if such is desired.

The surface of cord-reel 53 opposite the surface engaged with cord-reel bracket-member 58 is provided with support members or stands 17 (see especially Figures 3 and 6). These permit vacuum-cleaner 40 and cord-reel 53 to be positioned or stored in vertical position with the longitudinal axis of vacuum-cleaner 40 perpendicular to the ground. This is a marked advantage, since it permits the vacuum-cleaner to be readily stored in narrow closets such as broom closets and the like. Supports 17 can, if desired, be omitted, and the vacuum-cleaner 40, stored in vertical position with the face of cord-reel 53 opposite to the face engaged with cord-reel bracket 58 being positioned flush against the supporting surface.

The cord-reel 53 is supported behind discharge opening 52 of vacuum-cleaner 40 at a sufiicient distance so that the area of the discharge opening between the cordreel 53 and the body-portion 61 of cord-reel bracket member 58 is somewhat in excess of the area of discharge opening 52, so that there is no tendency to retard the discharged air as it passes from discharge opening 52. Moreover, it is noted that extension 64 extends across and somewhat beyond the entire width of discharge opening 52 so that the compressed air discharged from discharge opening 52 is prevented from flowing downwardly between the cord-reel 53 and housing 44, thus preventing such discharged air from disturbing any dust or dirt disposed upon the supporting area upon which vacuumcleaner 40 is resting. The expelled air from discharge opening 52 is discharged laterally and can also be discharged partially upwardly by fiaring-in the angularly disposed edges of extension 63 or providing openings in extension 63. This flow-control feature is highly desirable as it prevents the discharge of air against the supporting surface, which discharge of air would create a storm of the dust disposed upon the supporting surface, to the discomfiture of the person using the vacuum-cleaner. Moreover, because cord-reel 53 is disposed directly behind discharge opening 52, the discharged air from discharge opening 52 is prevented from flowing rearwardly in a concentrated vortex or stream but is diffused and discharged gently at the sides of the opening, thus preventing any concentrated stream of air from issuing from vacuum-cleaner 40. This is desirable since such a concentrated stream of air may disturb drapes, curtains or 6 other dust-collecting surfaces disposed to the rear of vacuum-cleaner 40. v

The present invention may be'embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application for U. S. Letters Patent Serial No. 107,091, filed July 27, 1949.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with an electric torpedo-type vacuum cleaner having a discharge port, a cord-reel-mounting support, an electric cord-reel devoid of any central passageway therethrough capable of accommodating a major portion of the air discharged from said discharge port, said electric cord-reel being carried by said support exteriorly of the housing of said vacuum cleaner, said electric cord-reel when in operative alignment with said discharge port being disposed with its major dimension disposed transversely of the longitudinal axis of said vacuum cleaner, in the path of the air discharged there from and so disposed and arranged as to baffle the discharged air from said discharge port and to deflect such air in a direction transversely of the longitudinal axis of the vacuum cleaner housing, said cord-reel-mounting support including a cord-reel hinge-member including a portion held in spaced relationship to the cord-reel by means of offsetting members extending from said cord-reel hingemember, a mating apertured vacuum-cleaner hinge-member secured to the vacuum-cleaner housing, the aperture of said vacuum-cleaner hinge-member being positioned over the discharge port of said vacuum cleaner, hinging means engaging said mating cord-reel hinge-member with said mating vacuum cleaner hinge-member whereby said cord-reel is pivotally engaged with said vacuum cleaner near the discharge port thereof, said pivotal engagement permitting the cord-reel hinge-member and cord reel to be pivoted laterally in respect to the longitudinal axis of the vacuum cleaner, an adjustable hook member on said cord-reel hinge-member adapted to detachably engage the discharge port of said vacuum cleaner whereby said cord-reel-carrying cord-reel hinge-member can be detachably secured in operative relationship with the dis-" charge port of the vacuum cleaner with the aperture of said cord-reel hinge-member being aligned opposite said vacuum cleaner discharge port, and electric conductors operatively interposed between the stationary terminals of the cord-reel and the electric motor of the vacuum cleaner.

2. An electric cord-reel devoid of any central passageway therethrough capable of accommodating a major portion of the air discharged from the discharge port of an electric torpedo-type vacuum-cleaner, said electric cord-reel being adapted to be mounted exteriorly of the housing of a vacuum-cleaner having a discharge port from which air is normally discharged into the open atmosphere, said cord-reel including a mounting support comprising a cord-reel hinge-member including an apertured portion held in spaced relationship with the cordreel by means of offsetting members extending from said cord-reel hinge-member, said cord-reel hinge-member adapted to be pivotally engaged with a mating apertured hinge-member extending from the housing of said vacuum-cleaner whereby said cord-reel can be pivoted laterally in respect to the longitudinal axis of said vacuum cleaner housing and disposed in operative alignment with the discharge port of said vacuum cleaner in the path of the air discharged therefrom to form a bafile for deflecting such air in a direction transversely of the axis of said discharge port with the aperture of said cord-reel hingemember being aligned opposite said vacuum cleaner discharge port, said mounting support also comprising a hook-member adapted to engage the discharge port of said vacuum-cleaner to permit said cord-reel hinge-member to be secured in operative relationship with the discharge port of said vacuum cleaner.

3. A support for mounting an electric cord-reel devoid of any central passageway therethrough capable of accommodating a major portion of the air discharged from the discharge port of a vacuumcleaner, said support mounting said cord-reel exteriorly of an electric torpedotype vacuum cleaner having a discharge port from which air is normally discharged directly into the open atmosphere, said support including an apertured cord-reel hinge-member adapted to hold the cord-reel in spaced relationship by means of oflset members extending from the cord-reel hinge-member, said aperture being substantially coextensive with said vacuum cleaner discharge port, a mating apertured vacuum-cleaner hinge-member adapted to be secured to the vacuum-cleaner housing with its aperture positioned coaxially over the discharge port of the vacuum-cleaner and substantially coextensive therewith, hinge means for pivotally engaging said mating cord-reel hinge-member with said mating vacuumcleaner hinge-member whereby said cord-reel-carrying cord-reel hinge-member can be pivoted laterally in respect to the longitudinal axis of the vacuum cleaner, attaching means comprising an adjustable hook-member adjacent the aperture of said cord-reel hingle-member adapted to detachably engage the discharge port of said vacuum-cleaner and detachably secure said cord-reelcarrying cord-reel hinge-member in operative relationship with the discharge port of the vacuum-cleaner whereby said electric cord-reel is disposed in the path of the air discharged from said discharge port with the aperture of said cord-reel hinge-member being aligned coaxially with said vacuum-cleaner discharge port and said cord-reel is so disposed and arranged as to baflie the discharged air from said discharge port and to deflect such air in a direction transversely of the axis of the discharge port.

4. A mounting-support for mounting an electrical cordreel on the discharge end of a torpedo type of electrical vacuum-cleaner, said mounting-support including a generally flat and generally stationary hinge-member adapted to be aflixed to the discharge end of such vacuum-cleaner, said hinge-member having an air-passage opening therethrough generally in registration with the air-discharge port of such vacuum-cleaner when said hinge-member is aflixed thereto, two spaced pivot-flanges carried by and extending rearwardly of said stationary hinge-member, one of said pivot-flanges being above the other, a rel atively movable hinge-member comprising a main body portion having an air-passage opening therethrough, two off-set flanges carried by and extending rearwardly of said main body portion, one of said off-set flanges being above the other, and a vertically disposed reel-attaching flange carried by each of said ofl-set flanges, said pivotflanges of said stationary hinge-member and said oft-set flanges of said movable hinge-member being pivotally connected with each other at one of their ends, with the air-passage openings thereof at the same distance from the pivotal axis connecting said two hinge-members and at the same height in relation to the zone of pivotation, so that when said two hinge-members are swung together about their pivot, the two air-passage openings thereof will be in substantial registration with each other, at least one fixed interlock-member intermediate said two hinge-members and carried by one of said hingemembers and arranged to effect an interlock between the two said hinge-members when they are swung together about their pivot, and a manually operable movable interlock-member carried by one of said hinge-members and having movable means arranged lockingly to interengage with the other hinge-member when the two hingemembers are swung together and the last-mentioned interlock-member is in its engaging position, thereby to lock said hinge-members in relation to each other in their closed position, while permitting them to be swung apart about their pivot when said movable interlock-member is in its disengaged position.

5. A mounting-support for mounting an electrical cordreel on the discharge end of a torpedo type of electrical vacuum-cleaner, said mounting-support including a generally flat and generally stationary hinge-member adapted to be afl'ixed to the discharge end of such vacuum-cleaner, said hinge-member having an air-passage opening therethrough generally in registration with the air-discharge port of such vacuum-cleaner when said hinge-member is aflixed thereto, two spaced pivot-flanges carried by and extending rearwardly of said stationary hinge-member, one of said pivot-flanges being above the other and both being laterally to one side of the aforementioned airpassage opening, a relatively movable hinge-member comprising a main body portion having an air-passage opening therethroug'n, two oli-set flanges carried by and extending rearwardly of said main body portion, one of said off-set flanges being above the other, and a vertically disposed reel-attaching flange carried by each of said ottset flanges, said pivot-flanges of said stationary hingemember and said oflF-set flanges of said movable hingemember being pivotally connected with each other at one of their ends about a generally upright pivot-axis, with the air-passage openings thereof at the same distance from said pivot-axis and at the same height in relation to the zone of pivotation, so that when said two hingemembers are swung together about their pivot, the two air-passage openings thereof will be in substantial registration with each other, at least one fixed interlock-member intermediate said two hinge-members and carried by one of said hinge-members and arranged to effect an interlock between the two said hinge-members when they are swung together about their pivot, and a manually operable movable interlock-member carried by the off-set flange of the movable hinge-members and having a claw arranged lockingly to engage in the air-passage opening of the stationary hinge-member when the two hinge-members are swung together, thereby to lock said hinge-members in relation to each other in their closed position, and including manually-operable screw for retaining said claw in its locking position.

6. An electric cord-reel device for mounting on the airdischarge end of a torpedo type electric vacuum-cleaner, for use therewith, including a reel-housing formed of relatively thin sheet material, a mounting-support therefor for mounting said electrical cord-reel on the discharge end of such vacuum-cleaner, said mounting-support including a generally stationary hinge-member adapted to be aflixed to the discharge end of such vacuum-cleaner, said hinge-member having an air-passage opening therethrough generally in registration with the air-discharge port of such vacuum-cleaner when said hinge-member is affixed thereto, pivot-means carried by said stationary hinge-member, a relatively movable hinge-member comprising a main body portion having an air-passage opening therein, two off-set flanges carried by and extending rearwardly of said main body portion of said relatively movable hinge-member, one of said oft-set flanges being above the other, and a vertically disposed reel-attaching flange carried by each of said oil-set flanges and being of a length sufficient substantially to span the generally flat contiguous wall of said reelhousing and being attached thereto, said pivot-means of said stationary-hinge member and said off-set flanges of said movable hingemember being pivotally connected with each other on a generally upright axis, with the air-passage openings thereof at generally the same distance from the pivotal-axis and at the same height in relation to the zone of pivotation, so that when said two hinge-members are swung together about their pivot, the two air-passage openings thereof will be in substantial registration with each other, at least one fixed interlock-member intermediate said two 9 hinge-members and carried by one of said hinge-members and arranged to eflect an interlock between the two said hinge-members when they are swung together about their pivot, and a manually-operable movable interlock-member carried by one of said hinge-members and having movable means arranged lockingly to interengage with the other hinge-member when the two hinge-members are swung together, thereby to lock said hinge-members in relation to each other in their closed position; said reelattaching flanges and said off-set flanges also reinforcing the contiguous wall of said reel-housing to stiffen it intermediate its peripheral wall.

7. An electric cord-reel device for hinged operative mounting on the discharge end of a torpedo type electric vacuum-cleaner, and for operative electrical connection with the electric motor thereof, said device including a stationary hinge-plate having a hole therein corresponding generally to the discharge-opening of such vacuumcleaner, said hinge-plate being adapted to be stationarily secured to the discharge-end of such vacuum-cleaner, with said hole thereof in registration with the discharge-opening of the vacuum-cleaner, a reel supporting and spacing plate having a hole therein corresponding generally to the hole in said hinge-plate, said reel supporting and spacing plate being hinged to said hinge-plate on a hinge-axis which is spaced from said holes in a radial direction and which is in a plane disposed transversely of the fore-andaft axis of such vacuum-cleaner, said reel supporting and spacing plate having two spaced-apart flanges, one on each side of said hole therein, said flanges extending rearwardly of the portion of said plate having said hole therein, a spring-motored electric cord reel rigidly aflixed to said flanges spaced from the discharge-opening of said vacuum-cleaner and having a motor-connecting electric cord with its inner end connected with its stationary electric contacts and its outer end arranged for operative connection with the electric motor of such vacuum-cleaner, a lock carried by said reel supporting and spacing plate and arranged releasably to engage and interlock with said hinge-plate for restraining said reel supporting and spacing plate and said reel carried thereby, from pivotal movement in relation to said hinge-plate.

8. An electric cord reel device for operative hinged mounting on the discharge end of a torpedo type electric vacuum-cleaner and for operative electrical connection with the electric motor thereof, said device including a stationary hinge member adapted to be stationarily secured to the discharge end of such vacuum-cleaner across the discharge opening thereof, said hinge member having a hole therein corresponding generally and adapted for registration with the discharge opening of such vacuumcleaner when operatively mounted thereon, lugs on said stationary hinge member projecting forwardly thereof and adapted to inter-fit and iuterengage with corresponding shoulders on the discharge end of the vacuum-cleaner when operatively mounted thereon, said shoulders being outside and spaced from the discharge opening of such vacuum-cleaner, a pair of vertically spaced-apart pivotflanges on and extending rearwardly of said stationary hinge member and spaced laterally to one side of said hole therein, a movable hinge member having a main panel with a hole therein corresponding generally and adapted for registration with the hole in said stationary hinge member when the movable hinge member is in its position nearest said stationary hinge member, a pair of vertically spaced-apart reel-spacing flanges on and extending rearwardly of said main panel of the movable hinge member, one of said reel-spacing flanges being above and the other below said hole in said main panel, said reelspacing flanges being pivoted to said pivot-flanges of said stationary hinge member on a generally upright pivot-axis spaced laterally to one side of said holes in said pivot members, a reel-mounting flange on and extending tranversely of each of said reel-spacing flanges, said reel-mounting flanges being in generally the same plane and extending outwardly in opposite directions, a spring-motored electric cord reel afiixed to said reelmounting flanges and having a motor-connecting cord with its inner end connected with its stationary electric contacts and its outer end arranged for operative connection with the electric motor of the vacuum-cleaner, aligning projections extending from the main panel of the movable hinge member into said hole of the stationary hinge member in close proximity to the periphery thereof when said main panel is in its position nearest to said stationary hinge member, and a releasable lock carried by the upper reel-spacing flange and arranged to interengage with the stationary hinge member to restrain the movable hinge member against swinging away from the stationary hinge member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,260,626 Berg Mar. 26, 1918 1,884,370 Swanson Oct. 25, 1932 2,045,975 Anschicks June 30, 1936 2,287,474 Hanson June 23, 1942 2,322,038 Lofgren June 15, 1943 2,464,401 Kelly Mar. 15, 1949 2,495,754 Nance Jan. 31, 1950 2,521,178 Meletti Sept. 5, 1950 

